00399 - Theoretical Philosophy

Learning outcomes

Course contents

First part (6 CFU):

Quasi notissimum : the memory of the Principle. A theoretical route through selected passages from the classics.

This course will discuss the “originary memory of being” through the reading of selected passages from the classics, following the lead of Pantaleo Carabellese's lectures. Heidegger's appraisal of the history of Western metaphysics will be constantly referred to. Students will be introduced to the main themes and figures in the history of Western thought; at the same time, by discussing various interpretations characteristic of contemporary reflection, they will be confronted with the “perenniality of philosophizing”.

Second Part

Learning outcomes

At the end of this part of the course, you will have become familiar with the main concepts of epistemology (belief, truth, epistemic justification etc.), you will be able to reflect critically on their mutual relations and on the relations that link them to other basic concept of philosophy, and you will understand the implications of the possibility of imagining some bizarre ‘sceptical alternatives' to the way we commonly take our world to be.

Course contents

TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE, JUSTIFICATION.

This part of the course offers an introduction to the main issues of contemporary epistemology, focussing on the analysis of knowledge and on the problem of scepticism.

Readings/Bibliography

First part6 CFU :

Compulsory reading:

First part6 CFU :

Selected passages from:

- Heraclitus , Fragments , Diels-Kranz 1-126.

- Parmenides , Fragments , Diels-Kranz 1-19.

- Plato , Republic , VII 514a-541b;

- M. Heidegger , Essence of Truth, the: On Plato's Parable of the Cave , London, Continuum Books, 2002.

- M. Heidegger, Principle of reason, Indiana University PressISBN: 978-0-253-21066-1; or M. Heidegger, Parmenides, Indiana University press

Students who are unable to attend lectures may integrate the reading of the above-mentioned texts with the study of the relevant parts of:

- G. Reale, Storia della filosofia greca e romana, Milano: Bompiani, 2004;

- G. Reale, Per una nuova interpretazione di Platone, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1989.

Second Part +6 CFU :

prof. Giorgio Volpe. - Readings/Bibliography Main texts: - 1) R.Descartes, Prima meditazione metafisica (any edition). - 2) B.Russell, I problemi della filosofia, Feltrinelli, Milan 1959, pp.141-166. - 3) E. Gettier, La credenza vera giustificata è conoscenza?, in A. Bottani and C. Penco (eds.), Significato e teorie del linguaggio, Franco Angeli, Milan 1991, pp. 268-270. - 4)H.Putnam, Ragione, verità e storia, il Saggiatore, Milan 1985, pp.7-27. - 5) R. Nozick, Spiegazioni filosofiche, il Saggiatore, Milan 1987, pp. 15-40, 197-209, 230-245. Introductory reading. - Choose onetext from the following list: - 6) A. Coliva, Scetticismo. Dubbio, paradosso e conoscenza, Laterza, Rome-Bari 2012, pp. 3-62. - - 7) N. Vassallo, Teoria della conoscenza, Laterza, Rome-Bari 2003, pp. 3-107. - 8) G. Volpe, La verità, Carocci, Rome 2012, pp. 7-65.

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra lectures, “dialogical lectures”, seminars, conversations during office hours and outside office hours by previous arrangement.

Teaching methods

Part of the lectures will draw the general picture, the remaining will provide a commentary to some classical texts. Dr. Volpe will be happy to clarify difficult matters and suggest further readings during office hours.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Malaguti

See the website of Giorgio Volpe